The money changers, also known as money exchangers, were individuals who exchanged currency for temple visitors coming to Jerusalem during biblical times. They are mentioned several times in the New Testament, most notably in the account of Jesus driving them out of the temple courts (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; John 2:14-16).
In order to understand the role of the money changers, it is important to have some historical context. During the time of Jesus, the temple in Jerusalem functioned not only as a place of worship, but also as the center of financial and administrative life in Israel. The temple accepted offerings and tithes from Jews locally and from abroad. However, it only accepted offerings in a specific currency – the Tyrian shekel. This was a silver coin minted in the coastal city of Tyre, which adhered to a certain level of purity set by the temple.
The issue arose when Jewish pilgrims would come to Jerusalem from all over the Roman Empire and beyond. They came with many different forms of currency, often coins with images of pagan gods and unfit for temple offerings. Thus, they needed to exchange their money for the special Tyrian shekels before purchasing animals for sacrifices or contributing to the temple funds. This is where the money changers came in.
The money changers set up tables around the Court of the Gentiles, the outermost court of the temple. They would exchange foreign coins for Tyrian shekels and likely charged a fee for the transaction. The fees charged seem to have been exorbitant, as they attracted criticism from Jesus and the writers of the New Testament (Luke 19:45-46). Jesus accused them of turning the House of Prayer into a “den of robbers” (Matthew 21:13).
The money changers probably also sold pigeons, lambs, goats, oil, salt and other items needed by worshipers for sacrifice and offering. It was a lucrative business given the Temple’s central role in Jewish life and the thousands of pilgrims flooding Jerusalem during key events like Passover.
Some key points about the money changers:
- They exchanged foreign and impure coins for Tyrian shekels accepted by the temple.
- They charged excessive exchange fees that exploited pilgrims.
- They took advantage of the temple’s mandate for pure currency.
- They set up tables in the outer Court of the Gentiles in the temple complex.
- Jesus drove them out for turning the temple into a marketplace.
- They provided a needed service but likely overcharged people.
- They exemplified the corruption Jesus opposed within the religious establishment.
Old Testament Background
The money changers in the Gospels operated according to longstanding temple tradition dating back centuries before Christ. The origins of the temple currency exchange go back to the Torah itself:
“Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Booths. They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed. Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you.” (Deuteronomy 16:16-17)
This established the concept of Jewish pilgrims coming to Jerusalem for the three major feasts – Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. They were required to bring offerings and tithes.
Later, in the time of the first temple, King Solomon instituted the use of the Tyrian shekel for temple offerings (2 Chronicles 7:4-7). Tyrian coins were known for their high purity of silver. This may have been one way Solomon enriched the temple and the kingdom’s treasury, by monopolizing currency exchange.
After the rebuilding of the temple by Ezra and Nehemiah, the practice continued of requiring Tyrian shekels for temple payments (Nehemiah 10:32). Jews returning from exile offered money for rebuilding the temple, but it had to be in specific amounts of Tyrian currency.
The practice clearly continued into the first century AD. Evidently, the temple priests held a monopoly on exchanging currency as a convenient means of generating revenue. That opened up opportunities for abuse and exploitative fees, which angered Jesus and many pilgrims.
New Testament References
The New Testament references to the money changers focus on Jesus’ bold action of overturning their tables and driving them out of the temple courts. Their business enterprise had encroached into the area of the temple complex reserved for Gentiles to pray.
The Synoptic Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke
The Synoptic Gospels record the cleansing of the temple similarly, at the end of Jesus’ ministry right after his triumphal entry into Jerusalem:
“And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” (Matthew 21:12–13)
“And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.” (Mark 11:15)
“And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” (Luke 19:45–46)
A few things to note about these accounts:
- Jesus was angry at commercial activity within the temple precincts.
- He quotes Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11 that call the temple a house of prayer.
- He drives out both the sellers and money changers.
- He condemns them for turning it into a “den of robbers.”
His reference to a den of robbers ties the money changers to the corruption Jesus has observed in the religious leadership. They are part of a system exploiting honest, God-fearing worshipers for profit.
The Gospel of John
John also records the cleansing of the temple at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry (John 2:13-16):
The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.”
Again we see Jesus angrily driving out merchants and money changers from the temple courts. John adds vivid details like Jesus wielding a whip and pouring out the coins of the changers. He strongly condemns turning God’s house into a marketplace.
Some key observations about John’s account:
- John places this event at the beginning rather than the end of Jesus’ ministry.
- It happens at Passover, one of the main pilgrimage feasts that drew crowds to the temple.
- Jesus is furious at the commercialism invading the temple’s outer courts.
- He forcefully overturns tables and pours out money to disrupt their operations.
- He demands they remove their merchandise, calling it a “house of trade.”
John’s account has specific details lacking in the Synoptics. But all portray Jesus as decisively confronting the money changers and merchants exploiting worshipers.
Significance of the Money Changers
On one level, Jesus’ actions against the money changers can be seen as a “zealot” type prophet enacting divine judgment. He brings a message of reform against corruption and injustice within the temple system. Like the prophets before him, Jesus takes dramatic action to vividly convey God’s anger.
However, we must also see Christ’s broader message about religious hypocrisy and ruthless legalism. He has already blasted the Pharisees for tithing spices while neglecting justice and mercy (Matthew 23:23). He is fulfilling prophecies of one coming to purify the true meaning of worship – honoring God from the heart rather than empty ritual obligation (Isaiah 1:10-17; Micah 6:6-8).
The money changers and temple establishment benefitted from a pious religious facade while extorting the faithful. Jesus forcibly exposes this hypocrisy. In a scene similar to his cleansing of lepers, he touches the unclean money tables to show they cannot corrupt his holiness or diminish God’s grace.
While focused on temple practice, the implications are far-reaching. Christ has come to renew both individual hearts and the corporate worship of God’s people. This will ultimately require doing away with the temple system itself. Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection will provide the once-for-all sacrifice that eliminates the old temples based around ongoing blood offerings (Hebrews 7:27).
The cleansing of the temple is a decisive action by Jesus to dramatize his mission of spiritual reform. The corrupt money changers exemplify a religious system that cares more about outer appearances, prestige, and profit than the condition of people’s hearts. Jesus intends to set this right and restore true devotion to God.
Money Changers in the Early Church
After the establishment of the Christian church, there is little further mention of the money changers in the New Testament. With the temple’s destruction in 70 AD, the practice of exchanging currencies for temple offerings became obsolete.
However, this does not mean greed and exploitation had disappeared. In Acts 8, for instance, Simon the sorcerer tries to buy the power of the Holy Spirit from Peter after witnessing signs and wonders.
Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!” (Acts 8:18-20)
Simon’s sin was a form of simony – trying to purchase spiritual office, authority or gifts. This later became a notorious church practice in the medieval Roman Catholic church, as clergy would sell positions and favors for money.
Church history features many subsequent debates around fundraising, selling of indulgences, tithing requirements, church taxation, clerical salaries and gifts to Christian workers. Jesus’ example of cleansing the temple has been cited against abusive church practices exploiting the poor for financial gain.
While specific practices like the temple money changers faded, the larger issues of greed and corruption within religious institutions persisted. As in Jesus’ day, sincere faith based on humble grace rather than status and outward observance remains the true antidote.
Lessons from the Money Changers
The episode of Jesus cleansing the temple of the money changers provides some important lessons for Bible readers today:
- God cares deeply how his house is treated and approaches to worship.
- Outward religiosity means little if the heart’s devotion is lacking.
- Religious institutions and leaders are prone to corruption and hypocrisy.
- True worship centers on grace, justice and mercy for all people.
- Zeal to purify and defend godly worship is good, but should avoid self-righteous anger.
- Jesus fulfilled temple ritual by making himself the perfect sacrifice for sins.
- Followers of Christ should avoid greed and always treat the poor with compassion.
The money changers show religious devotion can be exploited for profit and greed. We must earnestly seek after the true meaning of worship – humbly honoring God through extending his love and justice to all people.